stratum

1 one of the segments of society into which people are grouped the lower strata of society have been hit especially hard by this economic downturn Synonyms caste, estate, folk, gentry, order, classRelated Words bracket, echelon, grade, layer, level, tier; place, position, rank, standing, status; food chain, grouping, hierarchy, stratification; clan, family, fraternity, people, race, tribe; subcaste

2 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement the level of writing in that pop novel is several strata beneath that of serious fiction Synonyms degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position, ranking, reach(es), rung, situation, standing, station, status, rankRelated Words condition, estate, order, walk; capacity, function; rating